Belladrum organisers release travel updates in bid to avoid traffic chaos repeat
Plans to improve the traffic flow at a popular Highland music festival have been announced after last year’s edition saw festivalgoers held up in queues of up to five hours.
Ticket holders were sent an email by Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival organisers with instructions explaining the new traffic management set up for the event, with gates opening on Thursday, July 25 at 8am.
The new system will see the introduction of parking passes as well as a new entrance for pick up and drop off (PUDO) which will be used by buses, taxis ad vehicles not parking on site.
In this email they said: “As everyone will be aware we had some significant traffic delays throughout the Thursday at Belladrum last year.
“To ensure we do not see a repeat of these issues we have made some major changes to our traffic management plans including updated entry routes into the site, gate names and campsite layouts, so even if you are a seasoned Bella-goer please make sure you have thoroughly read our updated traffic arrival information, studied the attached map and planned your route to Bella.”
Festivalgoers are asked to stick to the suggested routes and follow event signage without following Google or Apple maps as not all routes will be open to festival traffic to avoid inconveniences to local residents.
They also ask not to park in the local area or resident driveways and to avoid smaller back roads.
Crowds attending the festival will primarily use two routes, one (in blue) heading west from Inverness via the A862 and A833, and the other (red) heading southwest from Inverness, along the A82 through Lochend and Drumnadrochit and then on the A831 and A833.
This year, all customers travelling to Belladrum by car will need to purchase a parking pass in advance. Those who don’t purchase in advance will not be guaranteed parking space on site and any car passes left will be sold at an increased price at £25.
There will be three car parks, one for the family campsite (green), one for the general campsite (red) and another for day ticket holders and overflow parking (white).
